Decreased lung function associated with perinatal exposure to Dutch background levels of dioxins

Perinatal exposure to Dutch background dioxin levels is rather high. Studies of calamities have shown that dioxins negatively influence the respiratory system. It was hypothesized that perinatal exposure to background dioxin levels leads to lung suboptimality, probably through developmental interference. This study aimed to assess lung function in relation to perinatal dioxin exposure. Spirometry was performed in 41 healthy children (aged 7-12 y, mean 8.2 y) with known perinatal dioxin exposure. The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC ratio) was determined. A complete medical history was taken. The prenatal exposure ranged from 8.74 to 88.8 (mean 34.6) ng TEQ dioxin kg fat -1 , measured in breast milk. The postnatal exposure ranged from 4.34 to 384.51 (mean 75.4) ng TEQ dioxin. Twelve children had to be excluded. significant decrease in lung function in relation to both prenatal ( p = 0.045) and postnatal ( p = 0.0002) dioxin exposure was seen in the 29 non-excluded children. A clinical association between chest congestion and perinatal dioxin exposure was seen.

Conclusion: Perinatal background dioxin exposure may be inversely associated with the FEV 1 /FVC ratio.     

Prolonged survival of adult rat pancreatic islets transfected with E1A-12S adenovirus.

It has been reported that various mutants of the E1A-adenovirus can activate quiescent differentiated cells to start proliferating. The aim of this study was to determine whether transfection with E1A-12S could extend the life span and functionality of pancreatic islets in culture. Rat pancreatic islets were isolated and transfected with retrovirus containing the adenovirus E1A-12S, E1A-13S, or control vectors. Transfection with the retroviral E1A-13S mutant produced extensive islet necrosis compared with nontransfected islets. Islets transfected with the control E1A mutant Ad5-dl312 vector (containing no E1A-12S or E1A-13S segments) were similar to nontransfected islets in their characteristics. We found that the E1A-12S transfected islets maintained greater viability, insulin granule structure, and glucose-induced insulin responsiveness over a 6-week period compared with mock or control islets. At 6 weeks of culture, the E1A-12S transfected islets also had fewer apoptotic cells compared with nontransfected islets. These data suggest that adenovirus E1A-12S can extend the functional life span of cultured rat pancreatic islets.     

体力活动和体质量指数与冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者心血管事件的关系

目的:分析体力活动和体质量指数是否与冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(简称冠心病)心血管事件有关。方法:①入选2003-08/2004-07于北京朝阳医院门诊就诊确诊为冠心病的患者941例,其中男691例,女250例,平均年龄(61.4±9.7)岁。②将入选冠心病患者按体质量指数分为正常体质量组(18.5￣23.9kg/m2)、超重组(24.0￣27.9kg/m2)和肥胖组(>28kg/m2);按有无体力活动分为体力活动组(每周3次以上,每次不少于30min的有氧体力活动)和无体力活动组。③使用统一设计的调查问卷,对患者体质量指数、危险因素、实验室检查结果等相关资料进行收集比较,并应用SPSS12.0软件包进行Logistic回归模型分析。结果:①正常体质量组、超重组和肥胖组相比,吸烟、呼吸睡眠障碍、血脂、最高舒张压、心肌梗死、冠状动脉介入术、冠状动脉搭桥手术、再梗死、缺血再入院、主要不良心脏事件无统计学差异(P>0.05),而肥胖组男性比例高于其他2组,年龄、最高收缩压、糖尿病和体力活动比例低于其他2组(P<0.05)。②有无体力活动组比较:性别、吸烟、呼吸睡眠障碍、胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、心肌梗死、冠状动脉搭桥手术、再梗死、血管重建、主要不良心脏事件无统计学差异(P>0.05),无体力活动组年龄、最高收缩压和糖尿病比例高于体力活动组,三酰甘油、冠状动脉介入术比例低于体力活动组(P<0.05)。③Logistic回归显示年龄(OR=1.029)、冠状动脉搭桥手术(OR=2.659)、高脂血症(OR=1.434)、心肌梗死(OR=7.972)是主要不良心脏事件事件的独立危险因素(P<0.05),体力活动和体质量指数不是其独立危险因素(P>0.05)。④对主要不良心脏事件事件中的血管重建、心肌缺血再入院和再梗死分别作为因变量进行Logistic回归分析,结果表明体质量指数与此3项均不相关(P>0.05),但体力活动是心肌缺血再入院的独立危险因素(OR=1.633,P=0.014)。结论:体力活动减少为缺血再入院患者的独立危险因素,体质量指数不是心血管事件的独立危险因素。     

Risk factors for low birthweight in the public-hospitals at Peshawar,NWFP-Pakistan

Background  

Low birthweight is a widely used indicator of newborn health. This study investigates the association of birthweight <2.5 kg (LBW) with a wide range of factors related to geo-demographics, maternal health and pregnancy history in public hospitals at Peshawar, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Pakistan. It is noted that that Low birthweight may arise for two different reasons, one related to gestational age and the other corresponding to births that are small for gestational age (SGA).     

Radiologically-guided vascular prosthesis after laser recanalization of occlusive lesions of the blood vessels of the lower limbs

The article deals with the first clinical experience in radiologically-guided prosthetics after laser recanalization of occluded vessels of the lower limbs in 20 patients. The method was introduced into clinical practice after applying separately the methods of radiologically-guided endovascular prosthetics and laser recanalization with subsequent dilatation and experimental substantiation on dogs with artificially created chronic occlusions of the femoral artery. The first results are promising, although the true place of the method in sparing treatment of vessels will be ascertained after rich clinical experience is accumulated and the late-term results studied.